Sign-holding device.



w. A. RINDGB. SIGN HOLDING DEVICE. APPLIOATION FILED APR. 20, 1911.

Patented Sept. 5, 1911.

ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM ANDERSON RINDGE, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN.

SIGN-HOLDING DEVICE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM A. RINDGE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Grand Rapids, in the county of Kent and State of Michigan, have made certain new and useful Improvements in Sign- Holding Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in devices for holding signs, more particularly those that are to be used to display the license number of automobiles, and it consists in the combinations, constructions and arrangements herein described and claimed.

An object of my invention is to provide a device by means of which a sign may be held rigidly in position so that there will be no danger of the signs becoming loose and dropping from the vehicle.

A further object of my invention is to provide a sign holding device in which the sign may be quickly inserted, or from which it may be readily removed.

A further object of my invention is to provide a sign holding device of simple construction which may be readily attached to an automobile or other vehicle.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification and the novel features of the invention will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming part of this application, in which similar reference characters indicate like parts in the several views, and in which Figure 1 is a perspective view showing one embodiment of my invention, Fig. 2 is a face view of the sign holding device, Fig. 3 is an end view showing the manner in which the sign is held against the upper hook by the spring tension of the lower hooks, Fig. 3 is an end view showing the position of the lower hooks with the lower edge of the sign inserted therein, and Fig. 4c is a section along the line 4l4- of Fig. 2.

In carrying out my invention I provide a plate 1, preferably of metal, of the shape shown in Fig. 2, this plate being provided with a series of perforations 1. At one cornor of the plate is secured a strip 2, which is preferably made of steel, and which is bent outwardly at 2 and terminates in a hook 2 The normal position of the hook 2 is that shown in Fig. 3*. On the opposite corner is a similar strip 3, which has also Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 20, 1911.

Patented Sept. 5, 1911. Serial No. 622,191.

a spring hook 3 as shown. On the upper central part of the plate 1 is secured a U- shaped guide member 4 having flanges 4 which are riveted to the plate.

A retaining member 5 is arranged to slide between the plate 1 and the guide member 45, the upper edge of the member 5 being turned back upon itself to provide a hook 5 The lower part of the member 5 is connected by means of a spring 6 to a bracket 7 secured to the plate.

From the foregoing description of the various parts of the device the operation thereof may be readily understood.

The plate 1 is secured to the body 8 of the vehicle by means of the screws 9 which pass through the openings 1 The rear part of the plate being smooth, there is nothing to interfere with its being attached to the front of the vehicle or the rear in a permanent place and in a legal manner. The license number sign in most common use consists of an enameled metal plate, such as that shown at 10 in Fig. 1. It is customary for each State or district to require a separate license, and for this reason the owner of the vehicle must supply himself with the several license signs. Ordinarily the license signs are displayed on the vehicle simultaneously and it is difficult to ascertain the license number of the particular State or district, on this account. With my device, the owner of the vehicle may carry with him the license signs of the various States or districts. When he enters a district or State, he takes the si n bearing the license number and inserts the lower edge thereof in the spring-retaining hooks 2 and 3 As shown in Fig. 3 the normal position of these hooks is at an angle to the plane of the plate 1 and the sign is therefore held at an angle, as shown in Fig. 3 The hook 5 is now pulled upwardly and the sign is pressed inwardly toward the hook 5 thereby exerting a strain on the spring hooks 2" and 3 The hook 5 is then brought over the top of the sign so as to hold it, as shown in Fig. 3. In this figure it will be seen that owing to the strain exerted by means of the j spring hooks 2 and 3 the upper edge of the sign 10 is forced against the outer portion of the hook 5 and held securely in this position. This prevents any danger of rattling or slipping.

It will also be noted that the working parts are between the plate 1 and the sign 10, and that there is nothing to obscure the sign nor to prevent the attachment of the plate to the flat body of the vehicle, as before stated. The provision of the spring hook 5 permits of the use of signs of varyi ng width.

1. In a device for holding display signs, a metal plate, a pair of spring hooks secured to said metal plate near one edge thereof, said spring hooks being bent to open outwardly at an angle from said plate and being arranged to receive a sign plate, a U- shaped guide strip secured to the central part of the plate on the opposite edge from the spring hooks, a slidable strip arranged to move between said U-shaped guide strip and said first mentioned plate, said slidable strip being provided at one end with a hook opening toward the hooks on the opposite edge, and a spring having one end secured to said first named plate and the other end secured to said slidable strip.

2. In a device for holding display signs, a plate, spring hooks secured to said plate near one edge thereof, said spring hooks being bent to open outwardly at an angle from said plate and being arranged to receive a sign plate, a guide strip secured to the central part of the plate on the opposite edge from the spring hooks, a slidable strip arranged to move between the guide strip and the first mentioned plate, said slidable strip being provided at one end with a hook adapted to engage the edge of the sign plate,

and a spring having one end secured to the first named plate and the other secured to said slidable strip.

WILLIAM ANDERSON RINDGE. Witnesses:

FREDERICK O. CUTTER, S. R. FLETCHER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

